Converting monsters from Second Edition Monstrous Compendiums

[freyar]

Good idea. The question for me is what is "attempts to frighten"? A howler has to howl for an hour, so every round seems a bit much, too. Maybe for each minute that the thunderchild does creepy things, everyone in a 30 ft region has to save?

 

[Shade]

That seems reasonable to me.

 

[demiurge1138]

OK, if the saves are happening every minute, perhaps the shaken condition should only last a minute. I was thinking the hour thing with regards to that duration.

 

[freyar]

OK, if the saves are happening every minute, perhaps the shaken condition should only last a minute. I was thinking the hour thing with regards to that duration.

That also seems fair.

 

[Shade]

Attempt #1:

Feed on Fear (Su): A thunder child can feed on other creatures fear. Anyone within x feet that observes a thunder child's frightening actions (such as banging doors, tossing objects, and so forth) must succeed on a DC X Will save or take 1 point of Wisdom damage. Additionally, any creature that fails its save must succeed on a second DC X Will save or be shaken for 1 minute. A victim reduced to Wisdom 0 dies of fright. On each such successful attack, the thunder child gains 5 temporary hit points. The save DCs are Charisma-based. The save must be repeated for each minute of exposure. This is a mind-affecting fear effect.

 

[demiurge1138]

Does each successful attack refer to Wisdom damage, status effect, or both? We should specify.

 

[freyar]

20 ft or 30 ft range? Should we specify that the victim must observe for 1 minute first?

 

[Shade]

I think 20 or 30 feet is probably too short. I picture the victim as indoors, peering out at the mayhem. I'd say at least 60 feet.

"successful attack" = loss of Wisdom? Should it be drain rather than damage? The original text implied draining.

 

[demiurge1138]

60 feet. I too imagine the victims hearing weird noises, catching glimpses in the night of sinister figures. Drain works, and I agree that the thunder children should only get hp by draining Wis, not causing fear.

We've already got the Dover Demons in the gahonga, but the "weird America" story these thunder children remind me most of are the Hopkinsville goblins.

 

[freyar]

60 ft works, as does drain. Drain should be necessary for temporary hp.